Moving to Louisville from Argentina next year (Simpsonville, Woodlawn: neighborhood, purchase)

[EricOldTime]

So back to my original question ( before I was interrupted by the crazed UK fan!


119 Seneca Trail, Louisville Kentucky in Iroqois

Its near the airport and not far from Iroqois park. Me and my wife out of all the areas east of I-65 and south like this area the best (looks wise mind you. Sidewalks, large Oak trees, quaint brick style cottages, older homes. To us the area "looks" nice, safe and seems to be well kept. Its near a little knob called "Kentwood Hill" that looks nice. What can you guys tell us? Looks can be deceiving? LOL

This suburban look and feel of that particular neighborhood we really like, it has the look and feel that we like. If we had to live closer into Louisville, we'd like a neighborhood like that. The tall Oak trees, quite streets. Even so, we're open, we want to learn as much about every part of Louisville we can before we make our transition. I just know that their are some iffy areas so...whatever you guys can say about it is great.

[censusdata]

Don't know about that exact address but you're getting close to a better area compared to 3rd St and the Watterson. Kenwood Hill is very nice, I think there are some rough apartments off Strawberry Ln that have shootings from time to time. I'm think right around that house is home to a lot of Vietnamese immigrants

[EricOldTime]

Originally Posted by censusdata

Don't know about that exact address but you're getting close to a better area compared to 3rd St and the Watterson. Kenwood Hill is very nice, I think there are some rough apartments off Strawberry Ln that have shootings from time to time. I'm think right around that house is home to a lot of Vietnamese immigrants

So, on a report type scale "A" being highest ( safest, most affluent etc ) "F" ( smoketown type, drugs, high crime, unsightly etc.. ) youd rate it what a "C" plus/minus?

[censusdata]

I should ask what your budget is. That house goes for nearly $150k, you could get a starter home on the East End for that much. When I think cheap house I think below $80k

Grade wise I haven't been down that area in a couple years. From what I remember I'd go as high as B- to C+. Nearby areas like Kenwood Hill or Windsor Forest I'd go with a solid A. Seems like most of the problems were in a couple apartments off strawberry lane or off Taylor Blvd north of the park, though the huge public housing complex that caused so many problems is now gone. Maybe things will improve.

[EricOldTime]

Originally Posted by censusdata

I should ask what your budget is. That house goes for nearly $150k, you could get a starter home on the East End for that much. When I think cheap house I think below $80k

Grade wise I haven't been down that area in a couple years. From what I remember I'd go as high as B- to C+. Nearby areas like Kenwood Hill or Windsor Forest I'd go with a solid A. Seems like most of the problems were in a couple apartments off strawberry lane or off Taylor Blvd north of the park, though the huge public housing complex that caused so many problems is now gone. Maybe things will improve.

I think our budget will go for around 90 to 100K. To be honest, it depends on the career situation we find ourselves in census. We're starting pretty much "cold turkey" in Louisville.....have to rent a room or an apt in the bginning no doubt, so all this may be a bit premature yet.

We could stay with one of my aunts in Anchorage but we really don't want to inconvenience her. However, we HAVE been making progresscd making some argentine contacts in Louisville. We've found several, seems there's a decent small sized argentine community there after all....so that's a good sign for us.

[censusdata]

If you can afford up to $100k then you have a lot more options then just the outer fringe of Valley Station or Okolona. There are small older homes that come up time to time even in nice areas like Lyndon or Oldham Co.

I'm trying to buy as cheap as possible, I'd like to stay in the $55k to $70k range. There's only a handful of houses in the whole metro that cheap and in same areas and not needing a lot of work. Most are in parts of New Albany or Jeffersonville. Our household income is pretty good but we have $600 a month of combined student loan payments.

[EricOldTime]

Originally Posted by censusdata

If you can afford up to $100k then you have a lot more options then just the outer fringe of Valley Station or Okolona. There are small older homes that come up time to time even in nice areas like Lyndon or Oldham Co.

I'm trying to buy as cheap as possible, I'd like to stay in the $55k to $70k range. There's only a handful of houses in the whole metro that cheap and in same areas and not needing a lot of work. Most are in parts of New Albany or Jeffersonville. Our household income is pretty good but we have $600 a month of combined student loan payments.

Sounds like we may be able to call you a "hoosier" here pretty soon! LOL

[johnsonkk]

Originally Posted by EricOldTime

I think our budget will go for around 90 to 100K. To be honest, it depends on the career situation we find ourselves in census. We're starting pretty much "cold turkey" in Louisville.....have to rent a room or an apt in the bginning no doubt, so all this may be a bit premature yet.

We could stay with one of my aunts in Anchorage but we really don't want to inconvenience her. However, we HAVE been making progresscd making some argentine contacts in Louisville. We've found several, seems there's a decent small sized argentine community there after all....so that's a good sign for us.

So you're coming to Louisville but won't be able to buy right away and neither of you has a job waiting? Depending on your savings, you probably should borrow a bedroom from your aunt.

Compared to what you describe, the worst place in the U.S. won't be worse than Argentina. Based on your inquires, a one time crime spree would whack a neighborhood of your list. There are few areas that can see an encroachment of inevitable crime that you can plan on avoiding. That's really why you should rent or seek the aunts bedroom. You seem like the type of guy that would really regret buying in the wrong place.

[EricOldTime]

Originally Posted by johnsonkk

So you're coming to Louisville but won't be able to buy right away and neither of you has a job waiting? Depending on your savings, you probably should borrow a bedroom from your aunt.

Compared to what you describe, the worst place in the U.S. won't be worse than Argentina. Based on your inquires, a one time crime spree would whack a neighborhood of your list. There are few areas that can see an encroachment of inevitable crime that you can plan on avoiding. That's really why you should rent or seek the aunts bedroom. You seem like the type of guy that would really regret buying in the wrong place.

We cant come to Louisville right away anyways. We have to stay with my mom in Florida for the first 6 months since she is my co-sponsor for my wifes visa. We'll have some money saved but we'll need to some more. Besides, my mom retires in 2016, she may come with us or shortly thereafter as she's ready to return to Kentucky.

I know that it's hard to completely avoid crime, but I would like to find the most affordable housing in the safest place we could get. My wife and I are pretty savy after living here in Argentina, well, my wife was born and raised here. There's burglaries and crime and shootings car jackings all around us every day. Here its risky even leaving your home un-attended for just a few days lol. You have to watch everything, when you enter or leave your house, hyper vigilance. I don't know about the US, but I'd say there's WAY more crime here and the possibility of being a victim of even a burglary or mugging is astronomical compared to anywhere I hav ever lived in the US. It's pretty dangerous, definately the most dangerous place I have ever lived. Everybody we know and have met has a story or stories. You have to be very vigilant and watch your back all the time. We limit going out at night now as much as possible and live in a house with iron bars over the windows, and a rod iron barred door with two dead bolts, over our regular front door, like a prison or jail cell. Everyone's house here is the same, bars everywhere! Barbed wire along the edge of rooftops or walls in front of peoples houses. We're tired of it to be honest, it wears on you living like this constantly. The last couple of years we've been through alot with our burglary and also having two different friends almost killed in violent home invasions. We're ready to get out....Argentina is a sinking ship.

Anyways, the idea is to be closer to my family and also mom, but be in a place that has job opportunities and also the potential for my wife to know other argentines and latinos. But, we are used to getting by on little and starting out small, living overseas teaches one alot about life so if it takes us a while to get on our feet we'll be fine.

[hogsrus]

Originally Posted by EricOldTime

We cant come to Louisville right away anyways. We have to stay with my mom in Florida for the first 6 months since she is my co-sponsor for my wifes visa. We'll have some money saved but we'll need to some more. Besides, my mom retires in 2016, she may come with us or shortly thereafter as she's ready to return to Kentucky.

I know that it's hard to completely avoid crime, but I would like to find the most affordable housing in the safest place we could get. My wife and I are pretty savy after living here in Argentina, well, my wife was born and raised here. There's burglaries and crime and shootings car jackings all around us every day. Here its risky even leaving your home un-attended for just a few days lol. You have to watch everything, when you enter or leave your house, hyper vigilance. I don't know about the US, but I'd say there's WAY more crime here and the possibility of being a victim of even a burglary or mugging is astronomical compared to anywhere I hav ever lived in the US. It's pretty dangerous, definately the most dangerous place I have ever lived. Everybody we know and have met has a story or stories. You have to be very vigilant and watch your back all the time. We limit going out at night now as much as possible and live in a house with iron bars over the windows, and a rod iron barred door with two dead bolts, over our regular front door, like a prison or jail cell. Everyone's house here is the same, bars everywhere! Barbed wire along the edge of rooftops or walls in front of peoples houses. We're tired of it to be honest, it wears on you living like this constantly. The last couple of years we've been through alot with our burglary and also having two different friends almost killed in violent home invasions. We're ready to get out....Argentina is a sinking ship.

Anyways, the idea is to be closer to my family and also mom, but be in a place that has job opportunities and also the potential for my wife to know other argentines and latinos. But, we are used to getting by on little and starting out small, living overseas teaches one alot about life so if it takes us a while to get on our feet we'll be fine.

Sounds like a fun place to live, old timer. Let me guess....you're not allowed to own a weapon or, you're not allowed to defend yourself...right?